From Minister Sonia Parag|

From Minister Sonia Parag|

Following a social media post by the News Room today showing toy guns and other items at the West Ruimveldt Secondary School, I spoke with the Headmistress, who explained that the school administration had independently organised a meeting with parents and students to address several issues affecting the school environment, including bullying and the possession of prohibited items on the compound.

During this engagement, the Headmistress displayed a number of items that had been accumulated over several years. This was done to encourage parents to be more vigilant and aware of what their children may be bringing onto the school premises.

The Headmistress made it clear that no search was conducted at the school today and that no officials from the Ministry of Education or ranks of the Guyana Police Force were involved in the exercise, contrary to the report by the News Room.

In light of this, I urge the News Room and other members of the media to seek clarity from the relevant authorities when reporting on sensitive matters such as those affecting our schools.

The Ministry of Education continues to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that school environments remain safe and supportive for all students.

I also commend the Headmistress of the West Ruimveldt Secondary School for taking this proactive step to engage parents on these important issues, as we work collectively to address bullying and violence in our schools.